Monday, November 07, 2005

Cause opens for sister slain by Satanists

The cause of beatification has opened for Sister Maria Laura Mainetti, a60-year-old religious murdered by three girls during a Satanic rite in 2000. BishopAlessandro Maggiolini of Como solemnly opened the process in Chiavenna onOct.23. "After the time of sorrow and mourning, now is the moment ofjoy andlight," said Monsignor Ambrogio Balatti, archpriest of Chiavenna SanLorenzo, asreported by the Italian newspaper Avvenire. Sister Laura, as shewas known, wasstabbed 18 times on the night of June 6-7, 2000, after beingtaken to a darkalley by two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old. MonsignorBalatti said: "The threehapless girls could find no better excuse toattract Sister Laura, than toconvince her that one of them was expecting achild, that she had been rejectedby her family and boyfriend, and that shedidn't know what to do or where to go."It makes me angry when they say thatSister Laura was naive. She took everyprecaution, but so did the girls.They were able to set up an astute anddiabolic plan."(snip)Underinterrogation, the accused said they killed the nun to "dispel theboredomof a life that was always the same in the small city," said MonsignorBalatti. Officials soon learned that the trio initially wanted to sacrificeapriest in their Satanic rite -- and their first choice for a victim wasMonsignor Balatti. "At that time, interest in Satanism and occultism hadbecomea fad," said the archpriest. "Even dress, music and some bookscontributed tothe spread of such a tendency. "Many young people followedmore than anythingout of a desire to call attention, to defy the rules. Itfound fertile ground insome because they were angry with God, perhapsbecause of personal problems,because of family troubles."(snip)Thekillers themselves admitted that when she was dying, Sister Laura foundthestrength to pray for them, saying: "Lord, forgive them." Bishop Maggiolinisaid: "I am certain that all this will reflect positively also on the threegirls: Sister Laura's is a light that will help them grow and mature.